Media Tools

Deer Archery Season to Open September 6

August 28, 2013

Archery hunting for white-tailed deer opens statewide on September 6, 2013 and continues through January 31, 2014. As a reminder, there is a statewide bag limit for bucks but the antlerless deer bag limits differ between the two Deer Management Regions in Maryland.

Sika deer archery season is also open from September 6 through January 31 in Caroline, Dorchester, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico and Worcester counties. The bag limit for archery season is two deer with no more than one being antlered. An antlered sika is defined as a deer with at least one antler visible above the hairline.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds hunters to check in deer taken with a long, compound or recurve bow as harvested with a vertical bow. Crossbow hunters will register their deer as taken with a crossbow. This information helps DNR biologists to continue to learn more about archery hunter preference and its associated impact on recreational opportunities, as well as the deer harvest.

DNR has added several Sunday hunting dates for archery hunters on private land. These and other changes for the 2013-2014 hunting season are in the 2013-2014 MarylandGuide to Hunting and Trapping, or online in the What’s New section. Complete bag limits, season dates, registration procedures and hunting regulations are on the DNR website and in this year’s guide.

Hunters should carefully inspect all tree-stands and always wear a full-body safety harness while climbing in or out and while in the stand. DNR strongly recommends using a sliding knot, commonly known as a prussic knot, attached to a line that is secured above the stand that allows the hunter to be safely tethered to the tree as soon as they leave the ground. Visit the DNR website to see more information on tree-stand safety and view a detailed video.

Hunters are encouraged to donate any extra deer they may harvest to Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry. The program enables hunters to take deer to cooperating butchers and processors where they can donate them free of charge. The deer are processed and the venison is made available to local food banks. Last year over 600,000 venison meals were provided to food banks and feeding programs through the program. Learn more at www.fhfh.org.

Why don’t hunter’s have a hunting log page like fisherman do on the angler’s log?

Chris Carpenter

Why not make hunting tags with adhesive backs?

Joseph Snyder

I’m not sure I understand the bag limits for deer as explained here and on the DNR website – I thought I read that there was NO bag limit on deer – here it says two. Heck, thinning out the herd that visits my garden every night by two deer wouldn’t even slow down the vanishing Tomatoes, lettuce, etc – I’ve had to make a 6 foot high wire fence around it, and they jump it like it’s a street curb. And judging from the road kills I see every day, the herd definitely needs to be culled, at least here in Montgomery County.
On another note, I am happy to see Maryland had the foresight to legalize not only crossbows, but semi auto rifles. I used to hunt in PA, and it never made any sense to me to be able to hunt with a semi auto slug gun that can put 3 slugs into 3 inches at 100 yds but ban semi auto rifles. (AR15’s in particular).

kking

Hi Joseph,

The two deer bag limit in the press release is actually referring to sika deer. You are correct that there is an unlimited antlerless bag limit for white-tailed deer in Region B when using archery equipment. In Region A (western Washington, Allegany, and Garrett counties) the antlerless bag limit is one deer per weapon type. If you click the bold “bag limits” in the first paragraph it will take you to the various seasons and bag limits for the year. Sorry for the confusion.

Please add a Sunday Hunting Stamp for $ 10.00, this would cover the entire hunting season (all types) and you must have this stamp for private land…. Thank you! This would generate additional funds for DNR, additional taxes for the state and local revenue for the Sporting Stores, Taxidermists, Butchers, Convenience Stores and more… The math is simple, the convenience to hunters is simple, the benefits are enormous.

Carol

If I understand bag limits, (1) antlered deer can be taken in each season (archery, muzzleloader and firearms) for a total of 3. Plus with a bonus buck tag an additional antlered deer can be bagged for a total of 4 for the whole hunting season. Please correct me if I’m wrong.

kking

Hi Carol-
That is correct. Two antlerless deer must be taken in Region B before using the bonus stamp, and the bonus stamp can only be used in Region B.

You can find the 2014-16 season dates are on the WHS home page in the Of Interest section (link titled: Maryland’s Selected Hunting and Trapping Regulations). Maryland’s Guide to Hunting and Trapping will come out in late July and will be available online or in print at that time.